Karen Sensabaugh, left, and Susan Collins give support to nurse Lisa Wilson, center, as the White Bluff Elementary School surprises her by planting a tree in her son’s honor. Cory Wilson died of unexplained cardiac arrhythmia while sitting in a finance class Jan. 17.

Never did Lisa Wilson dream a cardiac awareness program she spearheaded last fall as a nurse at White Bluff Elementary School would be a life saver, of sorts, for her after she experienced a mother’s worst nightmare — the sudden death of her 21-year-old son.

Cory Wilson was a seemingly healthy, athletic young man who died of unexplained cardiac arrhythmia while sitting in a finance class Jan. 17 at Georgia Southern University.

The Wilson family — Lisa, husband Kenny and daughter Morgan — still are reeling from the loss of a member of their tightly knit “foursome,” but are collectively trying to put one foot in front of the other to deal with their grief and shine a positive light on Cory’s life.

This Mother’s Day, Lisa insists she doesn’t want sympathy and will not dwell on the overwhelming sadness she feels every moment since that dreary, rainy January day when Cory died.

“I will never be the same person,” she admits. “I will never live as valiantly, laugh as loudly or love as openly, but I am still blessed with a loving and incredible family and a multitude of friends (ours, Cory’s and Morgan’s) who offer their shoulders every day.

“I was blessed with an amazing boy for 21 years,” she says. “And yes, my heart has been shattered by his loss, but my wish is for others to carry on Cory’s legacy of living, laughing and loving.”

The loss of normal

Lisa always has hated the term “new normal” but especially now because with Cory gone nothing ever will be normal. At the same time, she says: “We are incredibly positive, glass half-full people” and it’s difficult to imagine a life of hopelessness.

“I don’t understand God’s plan and I don’t like it, but to survive our family has to believe,” she says. “It’s not our desire to be stuck in the mire of grief.”

Occasionally, Lisa says, despite her sadness, she knows there is still good in the world and, smiling through tears, she says she and her family find out every day of yet another life that was touched by Cory’s kind, humorous nature.

Just a few months ago, when Cory was home for Christmas vacation, he told his mom how proud he was of her efforts to bring Project S.A.V.E. to White Bluff Elementary.

Based out of Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, the program focuses on teaching cardiopulmonary resuscitation and the use of an automated external defibrillator. The acronym S.A.V.E. stands for Sudden cardiac death, Awareness, Vision for prevention and Education.

Lisa had heard about Project S.A.V.E. last summer during a statewide school nurses’ meeting. In fact, she won a defibrillator as a door prize.

She says winning the defibrillator was a sign that she needed to bring the program to White Bluff where one child is under hospice care.

“As a nurse I want to try to make people better, and (with this child) I am constantly struggling because there is little I can do for him,” she says.

“My thoughts were that if I could not help this one tiny boy, I would make sure that I, and every other staff member at our school, would be able to help any other child, or adult, who came on our campus.”

At the beginning of the school year, she discussed Project S.A.V.E. with White Bluff’s administration and staff, all of whom supported the idea despite the rigorous training involved, she said.

By the time school let out for the holidays, every White Bluff staff member was trained and could demonstrate the correct way to perform hands-only CPR and use the defibrillator. The school even held mock drills with local emergency medical service personnel and campus police so they would know how to react quickly and effectively.

When Cory came home for Christmas, he watched a video of the White Bluff drill and was impressed with his mother’s efforts.

“He was excited and asked me to teach him CPR when he got out for spring break,” Lisa said. “Sadly, I will never have the chance to teach him. It’s ironic that I taught an entire school how to do CPR and then I lost my son to a cardiac arrest.”

Making a difference

When Cory collapsed, a classmate named Edwin Garcia who was trained as a lifeguard began CPR until medical personnel arrived. The Wilsons understand how traumatic it must have been for Cory’s classmates to witness his collapse, so recently they made it a point to speak to the class.

“We said, ‘We want you guys to know that we understand that it was horrible for y’all and it’s horrible for us, but we want something positive to come out of this tragedy,’” Lisa said.

The Wilsons wonder sometimes what might have been had a defibrillator been readily accessible in the building. At the same time, it’s torturous for them to dwell on the possibility their son could have been saved.

“Cory had the best chances under the circumstances, but the circumstances could have been different,” she said. “In a heart emergency, the use of (a defibrillator) can increase the chance of survival by 70 percent,” she said.

One of the Wilsons’ goals is for people to have access to a defibrillator.

“Learn it, get it and have it ready,” she said. “We don’t want any family to go through what we did.”

That’s the reason why, this week, the family was on hand at GSU when a defibrillator, a wall unit and plaque were dedicated in Cory’s memory and placed outside classroom 1111 where Cory died.

Cory’s birthday was Nov. 11, and Lisa smiles when she relates the story of how if you look at a clock or watch when it’s 11:11 you should make a wish because an angel supposedly is watching over you.

The defibrillator was donated by Mike Castleman of Cardiac Science Corp. in Jacksonville, Fla., and the wall unit and plaque were given by Janet Prince of School Health.

“This is an example of an opportunity for Cory to make a difference even through his death,” Lisa said.

Cory had just completed his core classes and was excited about beginning his upper-level business courses, his mom said. He was in Kappa Alpha fraternity and was very much a fun-loving boy, she added.

“His mantra was live, laugh, love … he always said thank you and never took anything for granted,” she said.

Cory also was strong in his faith and was health conscious. As a teenager he traveled to poverty-ridden Appalachia on a church mission trip and was forever touched by the experience, his father said. When it came to health, he exercised often by playing baseball and participating in rigorous cycle spinning classes.

The loss

The family last saw him in Statesboro the Tuesday night before his death. Cory had just finished a spinning class and hugged and kissed his parents before they left for home.

“We got in the car and I guess I had a sixth sense (about what was to come),” Lisa Wilson said. “I got out of the car and gave him a huge bear hug.”

Just two days later, after learning that Cory was en route to the hospital, Kenny and Lisa raced to Statesboro, praying the entire way.

“I prayed to God that he would be with Cory and that he would watch over Cory,” Lisa Wilson said.

When Lisa and Kenny were told of their son’s collapse they were concerned, of course, but never thought it would be a heart issue. Kenny Wilson figured Cory had fainted or was dehydrated but certainly could not be at death’s door.

“I thought we would run up (to Statesboro) and he would be sitting up in the (emergency room),” he said. “I’m not a real smart medical person, but when we got to the hospital and found out that (doctors and nurses) had been doing CPR for 45 minutes, I knew it wasn’t good.”

When Lisa saw the line of nurses taking turns doing CPR, she begged to help.

“I was performing CPR on my own child,” she says. “It could not be real. It had to be a nightmare or a drill, but it wasn’t and I wanted to die myself when the doctor said, ‘We have to call it. He’s not going to make it.’

“I cried as the staff left, and Kenny and I were standing there with the lifeless baby boy who had brought us so much joy for 21 years.

“Every dream, every hope, every bit of faith I had ever had was shredded, and we began this journey that has me fighting for a will to live at all.”

Afterward, when the Wilsons were ushered to another room in the hospital, the police came in and told them Cory’s backpack had to be searched because the death of a healthy 21-year-old was “unusual,” Lisa said.

As the officers watched, she retrieved Cory’s sunglasses, keys, visor and other items. She then dug her hands deep into the nylon bag, felt something and pulled it out.

It was a Bible and knowing that her son carried it in his backpack was “the single most comforting thing” that has happened since his death, Lisa said.

Friends and people the Wilsons don’t even know constantly tell them they are strong. Lisa, however, says she, Kenny and Morgan are far from strong.

“We are beyond weak,” she said. “We are not some kind of parent heroes. We — as Cory’s girlfriend, Olivia Nelson, put it — are forever broken. We have been frustrated, and yes, angry with God at times. We have questioned His plan,” she says.

“I don’t walk around angry, but there have been days when I have gone outside, fallen to my knees and screamed ‘Why God? Why would you do this to us?’”

Moving forward

Cory’s memory being kept alive in so many ways has been a blessing for Lisa, Kenny and Morgan.

A partial list of those blessings includes:

• The donations and ceremony at Georgia Southern.

• The Savannah chapter of Gideons International’s gift of 426 Bibles to all upper school students at Cory’s alma mater, Savannah Christian Preparatory School.

• The Cory Wilson Scholarship Fund through Delta Theta.

• The Cory Joseph Wilson Memorial Scholarship through The Savannah Community Foundation Inc.

The Wilsons insist “the amazing generosity of others” speaks to Cory’s life and not them.

“We are involved to the point that we are his parents, but it is not about us doing things,” she said. “It is about others making things happen for the family of a boy who made a difference.”

Initially, Lisa didn’t plan to return to work at White Bluff but changed her mind after three months.

“I was prompted, annoyed and haunted many times by my memories of Cory’s excitement to see our video and to learn CPR,” she says.

Finally, she realized she must go back to work to see Project S.A.V.E. through to fruition and to be around the faculty and staffers who made it a priority. White Bluff is now an official Project S.A.V.E. school and the only school in the county to be designated as such.

She also is forever grateful for the emotional support she receives from her co-workers, whom she considers family.

Lisa describes her initial interest in Project S.A.V.E. as ironic because it came about as a way to help someone else’s son.

“I came back to school, not for me, but for this,” she says. “It’s my gift to Cory, and I guess, in a roundabout way, the very project I started to save the lives of others actually saved my own.”

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I was a fellow classmate of Cory's when this tragic event happened. When the Wilson's came to our class to speak with us about Cory, I wanted to say so many things and I could not find the courage. Before this happened, I never thought about how quickly life can change. I did not have the chance of getting to know Cory, other than the 2 days of class together, but he has forever changed my life in such a wonderful way. I live for today and I know to cherish every moment. I know that God placed every single student in that classroom with him for a reason. I will forever have the Wilson family in my prayers.

I am Cory's mom. Cory's dad and I appreciate the support that we have received from the entire GSU community. Please know that we would welcome any comments or concerns you would like to share. While we are thankful that lives have been touched, and even more thankful for prayers and kind thoughts, we would like to do anything possible to keep this situation from re-occuring if possible. An AED has been placed in the Business Building in Cory's memory and it is our hope that there will be more placed throughout the campus within the next 12 months. Please take time to watch a Hands Only CPR video...there is one on youtube sponsored by the American Heart Association. Also, check out one for How to Use An AED. These only take minutes to watch but can help save a life. An AED increases chances of survival by 70%. It is heartbreaking for me to think that Cory's life could have possibly been saved had an AED been available, or even if someone else had stepped in to help the one and only person who was willing to do CPR. Please, the life you save could be someone in your family. My address is lwluci1987@aol.com. You may contact me if you like...I would appreciate hearing your comments. Be strong...you can help save a life. Don't miss that chance. Lisa Wilson

Last July Mike Castleman of Cardiac Science and I (Janet Prince of School Health Corporation) had the honor of presenting Lisa with the AED. Her name was selected as the winner of an AED at the state school nurse conference. We commented then that Lisa would stop at nothing to educate the staff and families on
just how important having an AED in every school truly is.
When Lisa reached out to me about the tragedy of losing her son Cory, I was worried she would give up.
Cory was so proud of his mom and we are too!

It takes an amazing amount of faith and family strength to push through this loss and try to focus on the many positives Lisa and her family are doing in Cory's honor. If you are a student, staff, or parent in any public facility... Please look around to know where the AED's are located (They are very easy to use, even for those of us who do not have a medical background.) and asked to be trained!

You never know when a fellow classmate, teacher, or parent
may need assistance. It seems AED's are still viewed as a device that is needed for athletes alone. At School Health Corporation, I hear of the many saves that occur each school year in all age ranges.Sadly, I also hear of many sad stories of loss because there was not an AED available.We need to make sure we are getting the word out so families do not have to endure the pain of loss, instead, they are able to hug their family member that was saved because there was an AED and public awareness.

Last July Mike Castleman of Cardiac Science and I (Janet Prince of School Health Corporation) had the honor of presenting Lisa with the AED. Her name was selected as the winner of an AED at the state school nurse conference. We commented then that Lisa would stop at nothing to educate the staff and families on
just how important having an AED in every school truly is.
When Lisa reached out to me about the tragedy of losing her son Cory, I was worried she would give up.
Cory was so proud of his mom and we are too!

It takes an amazing amount of faith and family strength to push through this loss and try to focus on the many positives Lisa and her family are doing in Cory's honor. If you are a student, staff, or parent in any public facility... Please look around to know where the AED's are located (They are very easy to use, even for those of us who do not have a medical background.) and asked to be trained!

You never know when a fellow classmate, teacher, or parent
may need assistance. It seems AED's are still viewed as a device that is needed for athletes alone. At School Health Corporation, I hear of the many saves that occur each school year in all age ranges.Sadly, I also hear of many sad stories of loss because there was not an AED available.We need to make sure we are getting the word out so families do not have to endure the pain of loss, instead, they are able to hug their family member that was saved because there was an AED and public awareness.